Retail sales rose 0.6% in the United States in December, compared with an increase of 0.2% in November.
The Commerce Department said on Friday that car sales jumped 2.4% in December, the largest gain since April. Sales of gas stations improved 2%. Retail sales remained essentially unchanged with the exception of these two items.
Online retailers, home improvement centers, furniture stores and sporting goods retailers performed better in December. Consumer spending accounts for 70% of US economic activity. Also gasoline station sales improved 2% last month.
